Annular press device



Dec. 19, 1967 R. KUHN ET AL I 3,358,328

' ANNULAR PRESS DEVICE Filed April 5, 1966 5 SheetsSheet 1 INVENTORS REINHARD gum:

ALBERT HAFLIGER Dec. 19, 1967 R KUHN ET AL ANNULAR PRESS DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 1966 United States Patent 3,358,328 ANNULAR PRESS DEVICE Reinhard Kuhn, Uzwil, Saint Gall, and Albert Hafliger, Gossau, Saint Gall, Switzerland, assignors to Gebruder Buhler, Uzwil, Switzerland Filed Apr. 5, 1966, Ser. No. 540,393 Claims priority, application Switzerland, Apr. 10, 1965, 5,051/65 14 Claims. (Cl. 18--12) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An annular press mold includes a shaft, an end wall member mounted on the shaft and closing one end of a press ring and a member carried on the end of a shaft within the press ring carrying one or more rollers which are adapted to move around the interior surface of the press ring to press material through openings extending radially outwardly through the annular press ring wall. The press ring is held to the end wall member by one or more securing bolts which extend axially. Rotation is imparted either through the end wall member with the press ring or directly to the shaft and the roller members. A feature of the construction is the provision of coupling elements which extend axially outwardly away from the securing bolts for the press ring, and, either completely through openings of the driving pulley, or extend up to such openings in order that the bolts may be easily engaged from the side of the pulley which is opposite to the location of the press ring.

This invention relates, in general, to the construction of annular pressing molds and, in particular, to a new and useful annular pressing mold having a press ring or annular die member and a plurality of rollers for pressing materials against the interior surface of the press ring which is relatively movable in respect thereto and including an improved coupling means for afiixing and releasing the press ring.

Annular pressing molds usually comprise a central shaft carrying the roller pressing element which is rotatably mounted relative to the surrounding press ring and end housing or end wall portion of the mold. The press ring is aifixed to the end housing portion such as with threaded ecuring bolts. The construction required a large-shaft driving pulley for imparting rotation either to the shaft or the press ring and housing which is most advantageously mounted between a fixed pedestal and the end wall portion. With such a construction, it is difficult to affix and remove the annular pressing mold to the end housing portion because the driving pulley is located such that the bolts become substantially inaccessible or accessible only with great difficulty.

In accordance with the present invention, means are provided to facilitate a rapid installation or removal of the annular press ring which includes a coupling member which may be selectively engaged or disengaged with the securing studs for the annular mold which are located in bores defined in the end housing portion. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a coupling member comprises an element which is advantageously mounted in the driving pulley and which may be moved axially from the accessible side of the pulley to engage a securing stud on the opposite side. It includes an outer head portion which may be engaged by a tool for the purpose of rotating the coupling member to unscrew the holding bolts.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the coupling member is mounted on a fixed element,

for example, on an extension of a fixed pedestal which is advantageously constructed to support the non-rotatable roller supporting shaft in a cantilever fashion. In this embodiment the press ring and the end wall are connected to the pulley for rotation therewith.

In a still further modification, the coupling may be mounted on a fixed extension of the end wall portion and the driving pulley is provided with an annular access opening for engaging the coupling. In this embodiment a sepa rate permanently aligned coupling is provided for each bolt.

The coupling member advantageously is an elongated coupling tool which is rotatably mounted in its holding member. It includes at one end a socket of a configuration of the bolt head which are to be loosened and at the opposite end for engagement thereof in the manner of a socket wrench. The coupling includes a head comparable to the head of the bolt for engagement by a turning tool.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved annular press mold having a press ring which is mounted on an end wall portion by means of securing bolts and which is relatively rotatable in respect to rollers which are located on the interior of the press ring and with coupling means for facilitating the tighening and removal of the securing bolts.

A further object of the invention is to provide annular press molds which include a shaft driving a plurality of rollers which are adapted to cooperate with the interior surface of the annular press mold member for pressing materials through openings in the press mold member and which includes a driving pulley which is mounted on the shaft for rotating the annular press mold member and associated end wall to which it is secured relatively to the revolving movement of the rollers on the interior of the press mold member and with coupling means located around the shaft for securing and releasing threaded bolts holding the annular mold which permits the easy installation or removal thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide an annular press mold which is simple in design, rugged in construction, and economical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and description matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a feed pellet press having a stationary mold ring and a revolving coupling element constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of another embodiment of the invention with a rotating mold ring; and

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of still another embodiment of the invention with a stationary mold ring.

Referring to the drawings, in particular, the invention embodied therein as indicated in FIG. 1 includes a feed pellet press generally designated 40, which in the embodiment illustrated, includes a mounting stand generally designated 42, having a mounting base with a platform portion 44 which rests on the ground 46 and which includes a spaced upright pedestal 48 at one end and an end housing portion or pedestal 50 at the opposite end.

.A driving shaft 26 is rotatably mounted in bearings 52 and 54 in an annular bearing portion 36 and an end housing I portion 6, respectively. The driving shaft 26 carries an end plate or press plate 56 having a plurality of rollers 8 which are rotatably mounted on respective axial extensions 58 and 60 of the plate 56.

When the shaft. 26 is rotated, the rollers 58 and 60 rotate around to cause materialdelivered through a hopper or inlet 25 to be pressed against an annular presser plate 5, which is secured to the end housing portion 6 by means of aplurality of securing bolts'4. The presser plate ineludes. openings or through holes 5a through which the material being press molded is directed.

The drive shaft 26 is rotated by means of a driving pulley generally designated 9 which includes a hub portion 9a which is keyed to the shaft 26. The pulley 9is rotated by'drivingbelts 62 to cause a rotation of the disk member 56 and a'revolving of the rollers 8 to press mold materials introduced" through hopper 25 against the interior surface of the press mold 5 and out through the openings 5a.

In accordance with the invention, means are provided for facilitating the aifixing and/ or removal of the annul-ar press plate 5. Such means provide access to the securing studs or bolts 4. despite the proximity of the driving pulley 9 and, include a coupling element generally designated 1 which includes a central smooth shank portion 1a which is rotatable and slideable within a bore defined in an annular Web portion or spoke 9b of the pulley 9. The coupling element 1 is provided with an abutment 1b adjacent one end which limits the outward movement thereof and an abutment 1c adjacent the opposite end which limits the inward movement thereof. A compression spring 1 1 -is biased between the spoke portion 9b and an abutment lc to urge; the coupling 1 out ofcontact with the studs 4. The inner end of the coupling elementl includes a head portion 14 having a socket 2; of. aconfiguration complementary to the configurationv of; the bolt head 4. An opposite end is provided with abolt head formation 3 which is of a configuration comparable to the bolthead or to the configurationv of 'asocketof a turning tool which may be used with the device.

In order to exchange the mold 5 or to remove it from the feed pellet press 40, it is merely necessary to place a power screw driver, for example, on the head 3 and then to push the coupling element 1 inwardly against the force of the spring 11. This inward movement is done until the socket portion 1d engages over the head 4 of-the securing bolt. The power tool is then started to rotate the coupling l in a direction to unthread the bolt from the annular press member- 5. After; allof the bolts have been removed, the annular member 5 may be lifted away from thestationary housing portion 6 together with the hopper member 56! for cooperation withthe interior of the annular member or press ring 5 which together with the endwall portion 7 is rotated. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, thedriving wheel or pulley 9. is formed integrally with theend wall portion 7 and it is rotated by driving belts 625 to causev rotation of the annular ring memberS which is atfixed to the endwall portion 7 by the bolts 4.

A support is provided with a bore; 10 in which is slidable a coupling member 1; Coupling-member 1' is similar to that of the other embodiment withthe exceptionthat it is longer and the construction includes acornpression springll' which is compressed between the end of the support 15 and the collar 10. Normally, the coupling element 1. when not in use will be moved backwardly to the'right from the position indicated to a position in which an actuator 17 will rest in a groove 20' defined in the coupling. When a proper portion of the stationary member 7 is aligned through the opening 19 defined in the pulley 9 with a bolt then a turning motor 43 may be pressed into engagement with the head 3'. The actuator 17 will then ride out of the groove 20 and in so doing will cause a flat upper portion 18 thereof to move off an actuator of a switch 16 for stopping the rotation of the pulley 9' through the 'belt drive 62 Thus, the operator may look through the openings 19 until the bolt 4 comes into alignment with the coupling 1' and instantly push the. coupling 1' toward the bolt to cause the stopping of the. drive. The socket 2' is. then aligned over the head of the bolt 4. and the turning motor 43 is actuated to remove it. When an additional bolt is to be unturned for removing the annular ring member 5, the turning motor 43 is again moved to the right to permit the compression 11' tomove the coupling; 1; and again position the member 17 in the groove to permit further turning of the pulley 9.. Thus, as similar to FIG. 1, the

In the construction of FIG. 3, there is provided a feed pellet press generally designated 46" having a stationary mold'ring 5" and a stationary end wall portion 6 with a coupling member generally designated 1" mounted on a stationary bracket extension 27 of the wallportion 6". In this embodiment, the rollers 8" rotate about the respective axes 58" and 60".

In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the projection 27 may advantageously be annular and there is provided a number of coupling elements '1" which is equivalent to the number ofbolts 4". Coupling elements 1" are always maintained in alignment with the bolts 4 and they are of a construction similar to that shown in FIG. 1, with the exception that the spring 11 is biased between the collar 1b and the extension 27. The foundation 44"'in- The arrangement of FIG. 3 provides a very simple construction which provides means for instantaneously tightening or loosening the bolt which holds the annular ring member 5" to the end wall portion 6". In addition, since the boltheads are always retained by the coupling members 1" even after disassembly, they are always in a position for rapid re-assembly with a new plate 5 when desired.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the inventive principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodiedotherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. Anannular press device comprising an end wall member, a press ring having peripheral openings for the discharge of pressed material therethrough and having an end in abutting relationship with said end wall member, said end wall member substantialy closing the space enclosed within said press ring on one end thereof, a central shaft member extending through said end wall member, a roller carried by saidshaft within said press ring and being relatively movable in respect to the interior surface. of said pressring, adriving pulley on said shaft member being located adjacent said end Wall member and being connected between said'shaftmember and said press ring;and end:wal l member to provide relative rotation of said shaft member with said roller in respect to said ring press and said end Wall member, said pulley having at leastone opening extending axially therethrough, at least one securing bolt extending substantially axially through a portion of said end wall member and threaded into said press ring, and an axially displaceable coupling supported adjacent said end wall member having a head portion engageable with the head of said securing bolt when said coupling is displaced toward said securing bolt and an outer portion engageable for turning the bolt head which extends axially away from said bolt toward said pulley to a location where said outer portion is directly engageable through the opening of said pulley from the opposite side of said pulley from said end wall member.

2. An annular press device according to claim 1, wherein said coupling head portion comprises a socket engageable over the head of said securing bolt and said outer portion includes a formation permitting engagement thereof by a turning tool, and means biasing said coupling in a direction away from engagement of said socket with said bolt.

3. An annular press device, according to claim 1, including means biasing said coupling into engagement with said bolt.

4. An annular press device, according to claim 1, wherein said press ring and said end wall member are stationarily mounted, said driving pulley being affixed to said shaft to rotate said shaft, said coupling being supported for axial movement on said pulley.

5. An annlar press device, according to claim 4, including means for biasing said coupling in a direction away from en agement with said bolt on said end wall member said coupling being movable against said biasing means to cause engagement of said coupling member with the bolt for removal thereof after said pulley is stopped.

6. An annular press device, according to claim 1, wherein said press ring and said end wall member are rotatably mounted on said shaft, said shaft being supported in a fixed position, said pulley being rotatably around said shaft, a fixed support for said coupling located on the side of said pulley opposite to said end wall, said coupling being axially movable in said fixed support through the opening defined in said pulley to engage said securing bolt.

7. An annular press device, according to claim 1, wherein said coupling has an end portion extending outwardly beyond said fixed support for engagement by a turning tool, a switch carried on said support for starting and stopping said pulley and actuating means engaged with said coupling and being movable upon movement of said coupling to engage a bolt to stop said pulley.

8. An annular press device, according to claim 1, including a plurality of securing bolts located at spaced annular locations on said end wall member and extending into said press ring.

'9. An annular press device, according to claim 1, wherein said annular ring member and said end wall are stationary, said pulley being afiixed to said shaft for rotation therewith and a stationary support located between said end wall member and said pulley for permanently holding said coupling in a position in alignment with said bolt, said pulley having an opening which may be aligned with said bolt for access thereto.

10. An annular press device, according to claim 1, including a stationary element for mounting said coupling.

11. An annular press device, according to claim 1, wherein said coupling is mounted on said pulley.

12. An annular press device, according to claim 1, including a plurality of securing studs arranged at annular spaced relationship around said end wall member and extending into said pres-s ring, and wherein said coupling includes a plurality of coupling elements of a number corresponding to said securing bolts and means supporting said coupling members in alignment with said securing bolts.

13. An annular press device, according to claim 11, including means to bias said coupling in a direction away from said securing bolts.

14. An annular press device, according to claim 9, wherein said coupling includes a member having a socket wrench end formation for engaging a head of a securing bolt.

' References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,648,296 8/1953 Oliver 18-12 X 2,799,050 7/1957 Traycofi 18-2 X 3,117,343 1/1964 Soars 1812 3,167,033 1/1965 Kuhn 18l2 X WILLIAM J. STEPHENSON, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN ANNULAR PRESS DEVICE COMPROSING AN END WALL MEMBER, A PRESS RING HAVING PERIPHERAL OPENINGS FOR THE DISCHARGE OF PRESSED MATERIAL THERETHROUGH AND HAVING AN END IN ABUTTING RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID END WALL MEMBER, SAID END WALL MEMBER SUBSTANTIALLY CLOSING THE SPACE ENCLOSED WITHIN SAID PRESS RING ON ONE END THEREOF , CENTRAL SHAFT MEMBER EXTENDING THROUGH SAID END WALL MEMBER, A ROLLER CARRIED BY SAID SHAFT WITHIN SAID PRESS RING AND BEING RELATIVELY MOVABLE IN RESPECT TO THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF SAID PRESS RING, A DRIVING PULLEY ON SAID SHAFT MEMBER BEING LOCATED ADJACENT SAID END WALL MEMBER AND BEING CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID SHAFT MEMBER AND SAID PRESS RING AND END WALL MEMBER TO PROVIDE RELATIVE ROTATION OF SAID SHAFT MEMBER WITH SAID ROLLER IN RESPECT TO SAID RING PRESS AND SAID END WALL MEMBER, SAID PULLEY HAVING AT LEAST ONE OPENING EXTENDING AXIALLY THERETHROUGH, AT LEAST ONE SECURING BOLT EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY AXIALLY THROUGH A PORTION OF SAID END WALL MEMBER AND THREADED INTO SAID PRESS RING, AND AN AXIALLY DISPLACEABLE COUPLING SUPPORTED ADJACENT SAID END WALL MEMBER HAVING A HEAD PORTION ENGAGEABLE WITH THE HEAD OF SAID SECURING BOLT WHEN SAID COUPLING IS DISPLACED TOWARD SAID SECURING BOLT AND AN OUTER PORTION ENGAGEABLE FOR TURNING THE BOLT HEAD WHICH EXTENDS AXIALLY AWAY FROM SAID BOLT TOWARD SAID PULLEY TO A LOCATION WHERE SAID OUTER PORTION IS DIRECTLY ENGAGEABLE THROUGH THE OPENING OF SAID PULLEY FROM THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID PULLEY FROM SAID END WALL MEMBER. 